A Yucca Valley man was arrested Friday morning after a brief chase, accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Claremont in March. According to Claremont police, Joseph Davall, 34, entered a home in Claremont late on the night of March 21 and physically and sexually assaulted the girl who was home alone.

Claremont police recovered evidence at the scene that led to the identification of Davall as a suspect in the crime. About 6:50 a.m. Friday, April 18, Davall left his home in the 7600 block of Joshua Lane in Yucca Valley, and Claremont police–who had been staking out his home—attempted a traffic stop a short distance away. Davall failed to stop and led Claremont police on a short pursuit back to his home, where, with the assistance of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department, Davall was taken into custody. Claremont police say additional evidence was recovered at Davall’s home that links him to the Claremont crime. Joseph Davall was arrested for investigation of sexual assault and is being held in the Claremont City jail with his bail set at $100,000. Joseph Davall was arrested by Desert Hot Springs Police in October 2012 for investigation of attempted rape, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon and burglary. Claremont police released only a composite sketch of Davall, saying that additional evidence suggests he could be involved in a number of related similar crimes throughout southern California.

The Sheriff’s Department will take all your unused prescription drugs this coming Saturday. Reporter Taylor Thacker has more on “Drug take back day”…

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will give the public its eighth opportunity in four years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Bring your medications for disposal on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This service and free and anonymous, no questions asked. For a list of disposal sites, go online to Z1077fm.com and click on this story. For more information call 1-800-882-9539.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will award the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sgt. Richard Jibson, a Twentynine Palms Marine, at a ceremony on board the Combat Center Tuesday morning (April 22). Gunnery Sergeant Richard Jibson was an infantry advisor in Afghanistan May 28, 2012, when he earned the Marine Corps’ second-highest honor for extraordinary heroism. According to the award citation, Jibson was with a 53-man coalition of Georgian, Afghani, and American personnel that was clearing an Afghan village when they came under enemy fire. On multiple occasions during the five-hour firefight, Jibson placed himself in direct line of fire to return fire to protect his comrades and to allow them to safely reach cover. When a fellow Marine was shot by a sniper, Jibson charged into machine gun fire to rescue the fallen Marine and pull him to safety. Amid the chaos, he also arranged for reinforcements, casualty evacuation, and close air support. His courageous leadership, composure under fire, and tactical expertise led to successful extraction of the force with minimal loss of life.

The position of local field representative for County Supervisor James Ramos has been vacant since Donna Munoz resigned to become the general manager of the Morongo Valley Community Services District. Dan Stork says that a look at the Supervisors’ meeting agenda for tomorrow reveals that the expected replacement is a familiar face and voice…

On the consent agenda of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors for Tuesday April 22 is the appointment of a replacement for Donna Munoz as Morongo Basin field representative for Supervisor James Ramos. The designated appointee is Mike Lipsitz, our reporter colleague here at Z107.7. Mike is the honorary mayor of Landers and the chairman of the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council. He is also currently the president of the Morongo Basin Democrats; his term there ends next month, and he is not seeking re-election.

Two other items on the agenda, while they do not directly impact the Morongo Basin, relate to issues of interest here: The County is applying to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for a half-million dollar grant to support Off-Highway Vehicle enforcement in the Barstow-Victor Valley-Twin Peaks areas. Also, the Supervisors are being asked to grant a Conditional Use Permit for a 20-megawatt solar facility in Helendale, denying an appeal against the project from the California Historic Route 66 Association in the process.

The meeting is open to public participation through the interactive video facility at the County government center on Whitefeather Road at 10 a.m.

The Twentynine Palms Rotary Club is sponsoring a free collection of your electronic waste. On Saturday, April 26, from 10 to 1, you can drop off—for free—your televisions; computers, laptops, and computer components; fax machines, copiers, or printers and their ink cartridges and toners; video game consoles; cameras; VCR and DVD players, cell phones and telephone equipment; and mp3 players. Bring them to 74325 Joe Davis Road in Twentynine Palms. And just a reminder, you can also drop off your e-waste for free at Cardinal Van and Storage, 73873 Calle Todd, just off Adobe Road, in Twentynine Palms, Monday through Friday, from 8 to 4. For more information, call Randy Councell at 760-367-7562 extension 105.

Copper Mountain College will celebrate Earth Day this Thursday with a presentation. Reporter Mike Lipsitz tells you how to join in…

Copper Mountain College celebrates Earth Day this Thursday with a presentation by Mojave Desert Land Trust Conservation Director, Frazier Haney, who will discuss “Desert Habitat Conservation” at noon in the Bell Center Community Room. Bring your own brown bag lunch to this free event and learn about some of the threats facing the Mojave Desert. The public is welcome to attend.

The excitement is building for this year’s 14th Annual Car Show and Street Fair in Twentynine Palms. The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce is currently looking for sponsors, vendors, and participants to be a part of this very popular community event. Bigger and better than ever before, this year’s festivities are going to be held at Luckie Park on Saturday, May 3, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of all the fun. For more information on how you can participate, contact the Chamber at 760-367-3445.

Applications are available now for the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours, sponsored by the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council. Studios on the east end of the Morongo Basin, Twentynine Palms to Joshua Tree, will be open October 25-26. West end studios, Morongo Valley to Joshua Tree, will be open November 1 and 2. Applications to be a part of the open studio art tours are available online at hwy62art.org, or at the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council office. The application deadline is May 15. For more information, call 760-366-2226.

You pass by them every time you drive past Palms Springs, those iconic wind turbines. Now the Morongo Basin Historical Society will give you a chance to learn about how they work. Managing Editor Tami Roleff invites you to take a windmill tour…

Ever wonder what it takes to design and run the wind turbines in Palm Springs? Join Morongo Basin Historical Society on Saturday May 10, at 9:00 a.m. to tour wind farms of Palm Springs. This two-hour tour, led by an expert guide, will talk about the history of wind energy. You will learn about why wind turbines are being built in California, new unique designs and environment impacts. Usually the tour is $35; MBHS members pay only $20. Sign up now. jrcs7599@roadrunner.com or call 760-366-7896.